There are several books concerning Revolutionary War pension records. However, one which gives a good abstract of what is contained in some Rev War pension files is this one: There are four hefty (and expensive) volumes by: Virgil D. White, Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files These abstracts pertain to pension claims initiated under the Congressional Act of about 1832. By then, many Revolutionary War veterans were deceased. However, their widows may have filed pensions, so scan these volumes if you can find them. Vol. 4 is an index to the three preceding volumes. These books are available at larger libraries and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City as well as at DAR Library in Washington, DC. However, because of the cost of these volumes, I found that the DAR Library had them in locked cases!!! They may be at a University library near you. Try to access some online library catalogs of libraries near you. Also, check on all the other books (indexes to military and pension files) compiled by Virgil D. White. If you can access the familysearch.org website, you may find a research outline entitled something like U.S. Military Records (see below), and there will be some bibliographies, etc. The Family History Library has aout 3,000 reels of film (and so does National Archives in Washington, DC and perhaps at some of the branches) of the filmed claims. To find the exact title of these films, access the FHL catalog on the above website (familysearch) and type in Veterans Administration. There will be a LONG list, so do this when you are not in a hurry. The films are arranged in alpha order, and you should be able to order to your nearby FHC the appropriate film for your person. Even though the widow filed the claim (maybe even after she had remarried, but not likely), the file will be under the veteran's name. Not everyone got a pension. I suggest you search records such as Pierce's Register (list of Continental soldiers on the payroll), such records as rejected pension claims (they still contain genealogical information), and in Virginia, such lists as Publick Claims--claims made by ordinary citizens who provided goods and services (one of mine gave bacon) for the Revolutionary army. In other words, you may have to plow through a LOT of books. As I read filmed court records, frequently I find reference to a claim of a woman whose husband is serving in the Army, and she is asking for *welfare*. Frequently the court grants her claim. Other times, there is a claim by a disabled veteran himself. Good reason to read court records--not only do you get a flavor of the times, but sometimes you learn startling things about your own ancestor. He may not have paid taxes, he may have been punished (perhaps severely) for drunkenness or cursing, he in all probablity was sued or being sued for debt, and so on. Nearly every male shows up in the court records sooner or later--and some females also. This is the URL for the U.S.Military Records on the familysearch website I don't know whether it will go through rootsweb. If not, e-mail me privately: _http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Guide=Milit ary4.asp|revolutionary_war_1775_to_1783_ (http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Guide=Military4.asp|revolutionary_war_1775_to_17 83) - Good luck in your searches. Pass this info along to others who may be interested in Rev War pensions. They are great reading, and, if the widow filed, there is generally LOTS of genealogical info. But get the complete file--not just selected papers. The cost is greater, but the info is generally great. E.W.Wallace _hdanw@aol.com_ (mailto:hdanw@aol.com)